Did you have to submit a folio? And if so, did you have the written scores and recordings or just scores or what?

Yeah, I had to submit some scores (usually the number is between 3-6) and recordings weren't 100% necessary, but the University liked to have them so I just put in the MIDI from Finale which the guy said was fine. I submitted a couple of movements of a string trio, a solo bass piece and then the magnum opus of my incredibly strange fusion days; an 18 minute saga of drums and bass (note: not drum 'n bass ).

Well okay, I don't know much about theory but I'll try to stay on track.

I don't listen to much classical music, I really enjoy Game soundtracks and movie soundtracks like the works of Howard Shore and Jeremy Soule, does anyone have any suggestions for similar composers?

When I write, I usually start with a harp or an English horn + Clarinet playing what should become the main theme of the song. (sorry I don't know too much about the terms)

Some time I might try to work with a trumpet or something.

I usually have a Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Pan Flute and sometimes I throw in an orchestral harp to add to ambiance or whatever. I like to write really reverb-y, slow stuff. I try to stay very melodic sounding. I haven't really gone through any other styles.

I took an online sample coarse of Berklee music school's Orchestration 101 I think it was called. I learned a bit there. One day I'll actually take a proper course.

Rachmaninov > all IMO. I've been obsessing over the first of his Symphonic Dances for a while. And I just ripped off the first few notes of his prelude in C# Minor for the climax of one of my songs, you know someone's a bloody good composer if the intro of one of their pieces can be used as the climax of another.

And I write proggitty prog metal, but I'm trying to incorporate more classical concepts and theory into it.

pretty much that however in most of my writings i use Timpani! also Harpsichord is often used! i like the bach-like sound

in my last piece i have uploaded the demo of i used same instruments as i mentioned minus the contrabasson plus harpsichord for the first part plus added timpani, triangolo/cymbals, 2 harps for the second part and minus harpsichord!

I often find that i am harmonizing strings as first, third/fifth. (in octaves)
i also like to have french horns to hold chords while others play around. i often have both clarinets or both oboes playing same in unison

my composer friends (who are pretty much professionals and are around 50-60 years old) say ive got some unique style a mixture of baroque, modern and something else. i dont know...

oh and i usulaly liek to write the main theme on a non-transposable (sorry im translating from russian) instrument even if it is for one. so i write it down then only transpose it!

vigenharutyunya: Listening to your Sonata in C-dur right now... your use of the Harpsichord, strings and pizzicato is VERY reminiscent to Motoi Sakuraba's town theme's in games like Tales of Symphonia/the Abyss. Especially your Pizzicato work.

My horn section is a little lacking because I don't really know how to use them effectively, but I'm trying to figure out a good horn section. Any ideas?

When I write I usually start with a melody or a rhythmic ostinato. I'll finish writing the melody and usually by that time I've got the basic outline of a progression in my head and what a finished product will/should sound close to... if not the entire song, the entire section I'm working on.

I like to move the melody around the different instruments (maybe I'll start in Organ and then go to the French Horn and then the Organ again but this time harmonized with the flute or something like that) and then maybe eventually bring it home to end it. Rhythmic Transposition is my favorite thing to do with melodies though. In one of my songs I have the melody in alternating 5/8 and 6/8 but right before the song ends I make it fit into 3 measures of 4/4 and a measure of 3/8. Changing the underlying progression also finds its way into my songs as well.

If I repeat a part I usually change the instrumentation. Maybe the first go round I'll have the strings doing a Pizzicato part and then after the first time playing it they'll play it normally (what's the word for when they're played with the bow? I can't remember). Small things make all the difference when parts are repeated!

hmm sorry i cant really read your whole post (im in hurry) so i'll do it later

thanx for listening.. however that is kinda old score may be you'd levo my new symphony (which is in progress of writing) however check out my last.fm link in my sig and find it there. i think you'll like it

DiminishedFifth that electric bass seems a little out of place to the rest of the instruments, although i haven't heard anything you've wrote with it yet so i cant really comment.

Haha I use it when I want something with a little more drive. If you've heard "Confusion Amongst Themselves" - and I'm pretty sure you have - then you've heard me write something that has it in it ;] If you haven't heard it, think along the lines of Motoi Sakuraba's (he's a bigggg influence of mine haha) writing. He likes to use that electric bass and that's pretty much where I got it from xD

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigenharutyunya

hmm sorry i cant really read your whole post (im in hurry) so i'll do it later

thanx for listening.. however that is kinda old score may be you'd levo my new symphony (which is in progress of writing) however check out my last.fm link in my sig and find it there. i think you'll like it

@symba05
I find the most difficult thing to play on guitar is tremelo. Otherwise most of my energy goes into produces a loud and full sound. The theory I've done so far isn't too hard but aural dictation is pretty intense.